Please join the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Artist-in-Residence (A-i-R) artists Robyn Tsinnajinne (Diné) and Russell Frye (Tesuque Pueblo) ’15 for an open studio event to learn more about their practice and current projects. 

Located in the A-i-R Studio in the Academic Building from 3–5 pm, this event is free and open to the public.

Robyn Tsinnajinnie (Diné) is from a small reservation surrounded by the endless colors of the New Mexican desert. Her experiences with school, people, and living situations forced her to become independent at a young age. This motivated her to pursue education and build self-confidence in her art. Soon, Robyn realized that being Native and a woman was often seen as a disadvantage, but she learned that it was the best advantage she could have. Her passion for painting grew from the ability to create an endless array of colors that captivated her. She enjoys using various colors that evoke emotions as she addresses the stereotypes placed on women. She then paints women dominating space and their surroundings, which helps Robyn heal and continue to face stereotypical challenges. She graduated from IAIA in 2020 with a BFA in Studio Arts, focusing on painting. Currently, she is represented by K Art Gallery in Buffalo, NY, and is more interested in how she works as an artist and her capabilities as a painter.

Russell Frye (Tesuque Pueblo) is an artist who graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in 2015. He is currently working at Prairie Dog Glass Studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Frye grew up south of Gallup, NM, on the Ramah-Navajo Reservation. His mother is a traditional potter from Tesuque Pueblo, and his father is an artist from Ft. Collins, Colorado. Frye studied at the University of New Mexico branch in Taos and Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. He joined IAIA in the fall of 2011, where he began an internship with the New Mexico Experimental Glass Workshop. It was during this time that he discovered his passion for working with glass as a medium. He believes that glass is an amazing material that captivates and can be used in many ways. Frye’s own work incorporates glassblowing, glass fusing, embossing, and other techniques. He is also known for his metalwork, particularly his bronze pieces, which explore the shapes and designs from Southwest pottery using new materials.

For more information about the IAIA A-i-R program, please contact Maia Filippi, A-i-R Program Manager, at maia.filippi@iaia.edu or call (505) 424-2369.

If you are an individual with a disability and in need of any auxiliary aid or service to attend events, please contact IAIA’s ADA Office at least seven calendar days before the event or as soon as possible at adaoffice@iaia.edu or (505) 424-5707.